Iranian top nuclear official: Bushehr reactor most exceptional in world

Bushehr nuclear power plant built by Russia is the most exceptional one in the world, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi told IRNA.

He said that 30-40 percent of the reactor's equipment is European, while 60-70 percent is Russian - a combination that made the reactor the most exceptional in the world.

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Germany started building Bushehr NPP, but stopped after the revolution.

Iran and Russia signed an agreement in 1995 to repair and complete the 1000 megawatt reactor.

Bushehr NPP was launched in 2011, but it has been shut down several times dues to 'technical problems and the need for more tests'.

Salehi said it has been three years since the launch of Bushehr and Russia would likely hand over the plant operation to Iran in three months.

"According to the agreement, a year after delivering the operation of the reactor to Iran, the guarantee time expires. By that time we want to be sure about the quality of the Bushehr reactor, because a year after we will get the operational responsibility, and Iran should take over payment for any possible damage or problem," Salehi said.

Salehi said that building a nuclear power plant takes 17 months, but the design of Bushehr caused long delays in launching and delivering it to Iran.

Salehi said that in case any damage happens to the reactor, it would be automatically shut down and there are no concerns about the possible dangerous scenario.

"We don't have to rush, until the final tests are carried out," he said.